And while their triumphant course to glory in the UAE was a considerable notch below what would be required in Brazil, it shouldn’t be forgotten how far they’ve come already. This time last year, Qatar were generally seen as a mess, projecting early that a transition to a more home-grown, younger unit would take time to come to fruition, given the average age of the squad coming through (the Asian Cup group averaged just over 24) coupled with modest club experience, which was almost entirely accrued in the domestic league.
Positive friendly results against Iceland and Switzerland in November sparked early curiosity. There was a glimmer of a promise that something might be different about these young players, something that hadn’t been seen before on the continent could potentially live up to its lofty billing. That billing of course, generated by the multi-billion pound Aspire Academy, tasked with producing the next generation of Qatari sport talent, with more than one eye firmly fixed on a competitive showing at the 2022 World Cup. Through the youth ranks they’ve indeed blossomed; qualifying for two of the last three U20 World Cups and making it to the semi-finals at the last two Asian U23 Championships. Their Asian Cup triumph however was the loudest indication that this group were ready to compete on the world stage.
The fallout from such success though has been moderately muted. Post the lavish celebrations (and cake cutting) players returned to their QSL clubs, cruelly missing out on a transfer or two which would’ve naturally occurred if the January window hadn’t yetd closed weeks before. The domestic season was another duopoly fight that didn’t show us any more than we haven’t seen before, while the Qatari clubs in question coasted through their Champions League preliminary groups in second gear. The headlines haven’t kicked on from February, with the big names who stamped their authority in their national colours failing to take the initiative once they returned to their employers. The Qatari youth sides haven’t exactly ridden the coattails of their elders either, finishing winless in recent U20 World Cup and Toulon tournament appearances.
Conveniently (if you’re feeling optimistic) the Copa America falls at a crucial juncture to keep brand-Qatar in the footballing public’s eye. A month out from the World Cup qualifying draw, which Qatar will remain part of despite having their hosting spot already guaranteed, it would surely feel like a missed opportunity if one or two of this promising group weren’t able to engineer a move to Europe over the summer.
Injury has held back Asian Cup top scorer and player of the tournament Almoez Ali, while upon his comeback he’s returned to a peripheral role for his club side Al-Duhail who continue to rely on the glitzier foreign talent around him. His partner in crime from the Asian Cup, Akram Afif has continued in trailblazing fashion for Qatari champions Al-Sadd, but while he is clearly a step ahead of anyone domestically, there is little hint his parent club Villareal will be keen on recalling him anytime soon.
Whether these two, or any of a host of promising talents catch the eye in Brazil is debatable. A star studded friendly against the Seleção last week in Brasilia was a close match on the scoring board, but a heavy hit home that the gap in talent is significant ahead of their Copa opener against Paraguay on Sunday.
Qatar, dissimilar to fellow AFC invitees Japan will be at full strength, free from serious injury and in the mindset of making a dent in the contest, a side out to pull a surprise or two rather than merely relying on the tournament for development purposes. With the Confederations Cup taking a back seat for the next cycle, this looks to be the last competitive outing these players will have to truly fight for something and sell their country in a positive light.
That light of course remains flickering. Political divides across the region has seen the modestly sized peninsula annexed from support. Add to this the problematic issues regarding their hosting, through questionable labour standards and corruption allegations, it’s fair to say the Qatari picture isn’t painted too rosy outside their borders at present. Even on a footballing standpoint, the cloud that emerged during the Asian Cup over Almoez Ali & centre back Bassam Al-Rawi’s eligibility for Qatar remains a question unanswered.
In adversity, and through little expectation usually comes a Qatari side fighting. Spanish coach Felix Sanchez, a man who’s been in Qatar for over a decade now has been reinstated as the man to lead the country through to the World Cup, after numerous suggestions that he’d make way for a “bigger name” come tournament time. Far from being merely an excellent youth team coach, Sanchez fully demonstrated his arsenal in tactical play in the UAE, having the nous and patience to know when to pounce, how to counter effectively and to attribute the best players to key roles.
They have the qualities to prove the perfect underdogs, as they did at the Asian Cup on countless occasions. Soaking up possession early in the piece, as they did against South Korea, and to a smaller degree against Japan in the final, they showed their patience to pick holes in stronger teams on the break. Through the pace of Akram Afif, the vision of Hassan Al-Haydos and the bullish pressing of Assim Madibo (which Neymar learnt to his cost last week), the team has its fair share of big game players that can hurt even the most established teams on their day.
When it comes to expectation however, it’s difficult to gauge. A realist, Sanchez has expressed this adventure as a perfect testing ground to develop further as a group and as individuals. Whether his employers will be quite so forgiving if they were to make a show of themselves in the wider public spotlight is another thing. In the end, while the World Cup remains a clear distance off, the Copa America will be assessed as a success for Qatar more by the column inches and media exposure it generates, rather than the results or the development it accrues.
Key Men
Head Coach – Felix Sanchez (ESP)
A Spanish youth development coach, turned Qatari national hero, moulding a distinct group of talent over the last 10 years into continental champions. Riding a wave of enthusiasm his contract was extended to their showpiece 2022 assessment, while talk of a big-name outsider is shelved (for now). Borne out of a typical Spanish form, Sanchez proved he could switch up their usual possession hungry approach and play on the break at the Asian Cup.
Star Player – Almoez Ali
Player of the tournament and record goal scorer at the Asian Cup with 9 goals from 7 appearances, the rangy Sudanese born striker has become an essential focal point to the side’s game plan. Has developed considerably from being used merely as a static leading man, Ali’s movement out wide by necessity at club level has improved his all-round game, which contributes to an effective link up with Al-Haydos and Afif in the Qatari attack.
Shop Window – Akram Afif
Having tried and to a degree failed to break Europe earlier in his career, the last six months has well and truly promised that Akram Afif, the golden child of Qatari football should be given another shot in the big leagues. Quick, direct with a cultured finish to boot, the 22-year-old remains on the books at Spanish side Villareal but will be keen on making a step up even on a temporary basis from his spell with home town club Al-Sadd, where he won the domestic title last month.
Young Prospect – Tarek Salman
A flexible, multi-faceted midfielder turned centre back, who encapsulates the spirit of much of this new Qatari team. Not the most physical (but on occasion petulant), nor quickest of defenders, Salman does however have the right head to succeed in the modern game, having the awareness and skill set to defuse and launch attacks in a blink of an eye. Formed an impressive centre back partnership with Bassam Al-Rawi in the UAE, despite both players only being 21 and having only brief experience outside of Qatar.
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